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By Popular Demand, Valet Parking Now Available

December 19, 2003

By Popular Demand, Valet Parking Now Available

Many veterans have voiced their frustration with the current parking situation at the Houston VA Medical Center.

Released: 2003/12/19

HOUSTON, TX - Ever run late for a doctor's appointment at the Houston VA Medical Center (HVAMC) and had to park what seems to be a mile away from the main entrance? In August? When your back is hurting and you don't feel good anyway? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are just one of the thousands of veterans each year who are frustrated with the parking situation at the HVAMC and have let us know about it.

The New Year brings great news about the HVAMC parking predicament. Beginning January 5, 2004, free valet parking will be available at the main entrance for our veterans. This service will operate Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except for federal holidays. And when we say free, we mean free. A "No Tipping" sign will be posted at the main entrance and this policy will be strictly enforced.

This is how it will work. Veterans using the new valet parking will be greeted by a uniformed, valet-parking attendant when they pull up to the valet parking area at the main entrance. Veterans will present their VA I.D. card and/or their appointment letter to the attendant. The attendant will then ask the driver how long he or she expects to stay at the HVAMC. Next, the attendant will give the driver a claim check and park the car in a parking space based on the length of stay, or direct the driver to a spot for self-parking.

Don't worry. All attendant-parked vehicles will be locked, and the keys will be appropriately secured. All the parking attendants will be in uniform and have a valid Texas driver's license.

When customers return, they hand over their claim tickets and are given the option of having the valet parking attendant deliver their vehicle or retrieving it themselves. After 5:30 p.m., parking attendants will turn over the keys of any vehicles still on the premises to the VA Police Section. Owners of these vehicles will be able to pick up their keys at the VA Police Station at the main entrance.

Handicapped persons can still be dropped off at the main entrance, and the attendant will then park the car or direct the driver to a handicap space for self-parking. Parking attendants may also assist parking patrons by removing wheelchairs and carts from their automobiles.

Drivers with buses or large vans, who wish to park their own vehicles, will be directed to a designated area by a parking attendant. Veteran service organization vans will still be able to drop off and pick up patients at the main entrance, and will be directed to a designated area if they wish to park.